Bye Bye Bowden

I know the news of Tommy Bowden's departure from Clemson today makes some (okay, one) of you mad (TJ) and makes some (okay, a lot) of you glad (Megan, Jessica, Brian, Gene, George, Tony, etc.). I do agree that it was time for Tommy to leave. This year, the stars were aligned for Clemson to not only win the ACC, but possible contend for a national title as well. Well, with a 3-3 record (and 2 of those wins coming against 1-AA teams), those hopes have been shattered. As an Alabama fan, I guess you could say that we are partially responsible for the "firing/stepping down" of Tommy considering we hit them in the jaw the first game of the season. But then again, he is, or was, the coach and could have and should have done much better with the talent that he has, or had.

However, I would like to say just a few things about Tommy Bowden. Tommy led the Tigers to a 6-2 record over their rival, the Gamecocks. Living in the upstate I know how big of a stat that is (bragging rights are everything). Trust me, Bama has dropped six in a row to Auburn. Beating your rival is always great. Owning your rival is even better! But, you can't own your rival and lose games you shouldn't and still think that all is well. Fans love to beat their rivals, but they love to win a lot of games, too. Clemson fans want an ACC title and they thought that was going to happen this year. Not so fast my friends!

Also, from what I've heard about the man, Tommy Bowden, is that he is a great man. He is a man of faith and has inspired many spiritually. However, being spiritual doesn't win ball games and not winning ball games in the southeast gets one fired. Here's hoping that Tommy finds a school where he can win and that Clemson finds a coach that wins more than Bowden.

Feel free to leave a comment on who you'd like to see as the next HC at Clemson.

C

C - My youngest son is having a difficult time with pronouncing this letter. He actually makes it sound like the letter "T". So for instance, instead of saying "car", he says "tar". Instead of saying "camera", he says "tamera". Instead of saying "can", he says "tan". We have been working on his pronunciation of this letter for a couple of weeks now. Occasionally, he will get it right and get so excited. Then, we he goes to say it again, out comes the "T" sound and he gets mad and frustrated. For now, it is one of those cute things that kids do.

Caedmon's Call - One of my favorite Christian bands. I haven't listened to them in a while, but when I do they sure do help me with my walk.

Candles - I know, why would a guy blog about candles? Well, I just like the smell of them!

Caribbean Cruises - What's not to like about this? Hot sun. Cool breeze. Crystal clear-blue water. Reggae music. Endless food.

Christ - But God commends His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) How cool is that?

Christmas - 86 more days! Tyler and Ryan are already composing their Christmas list.

Christmas Vacation - One of those movies I can watch over and over (and over and over) even when it's not Christmas time. In fact, it was just on the other night!

Church - It has been a long journey, but we think we might have found a new church home! Pray for us as we discern God's will for us in this matter! We have been very patient!

Clemson - Here's hoping that Clemson can defeat Wake Forest this Thursday night (for my wife's sake). If they don't win, I fear for Tommy Bowden's job.

Crimson Tide - I wasn't going to blog about this for fear that I might jinx them, but Alabama is ranked #2. This is their highest ranking since 1993. Hopefully, we can keep this up! We have a bye this Saturday then we play Ole Miss. After that, we play @ Tennessee. You hear that PH? Tell KH that the Tide is coming! Roll Tide!

Net Zero

I hear that Clemson's rushing attack has a corporate sponsor .... Net Zero! LOL! Do you get it? Alabama held Clemson's James Davis and C.J. Spiller to net zero yards rushing for the game. I guess it doesn't thunder and lightning inside of a dome! I'm just kidding! Actually, a USC friend of mine sent me this and I thought I would use it here. You have to admit, it is funny! They are also referring to the duo as Blunder and Frightening. My only advice to USC fans is to watch out! Davis and Spiller might have had a bad game against Bama, but I don't see USC stopping them. Spiller really is fast as lightning! I couldn't believe how fast he was when he returned that kickoff for a TD. There was nobody within 30 yards. of him once he passed the 50 yd. line. I think that the coaching staff takes this loss on their shoulders. For Clemson to have all of that offensive fire power and to net zero yards rushing in a game raises many red flags. Granted Alabama owned the game in the trenches on both sides of the ball, but Clemson should have at least been in the game considering all of the hype that preceded them! I don't know whether Clemson was overrated or if Alabama was underrated or both??? Either way, I'm just glad we won! Just as a side note, the Clemson fans were great, too! I think what I've come to realize is that every school has its fans that they would like to disown and those are the fans that probably show up to the games drunk as skunks! We dealt with 2 of them! The other fans (Alabama and Clemson) all got along fine!

We had a great trip to Atlanta and had an awesome time at the game! I was very impressed with Alabama, especially all of the freshmen that played. My wife and I kept trying to figure out who all these freshmen were that were showing out! John Parker Wilson didn't put up huge numbers at QB, but played a flawless game and was very consistent. That's what we need from him! Coffee and Engram ran the ball straight at Clemson's defense who couldn't find an answer to our running attack. Julio Jones scored his first collegiate TD and the Bama Nation let him know how they felt about that! I am so excited about the rest of our season now! It seems like we finally have something to cheer about! However, I don't want to get over confident about our win over Clemson. One game at a time! We still play in the SEC (@ Arkansas, @ Georgia, Kentucky, Ole Miss, @ Tennessee, @ LSU, Mississippi State and Auburn). If we can come out with a 9 - 3 season I would say that we exceeded expectations this year. An 8 - 4 season would be expected. Next year should prove to be even more exciting!

Enough about the game. I just want to say how badly I hate the MARTA in Atlanta! Taking the MARTA from the airport to the dome was fine and very pleasant, but trying to get on the MARTA after the game was like being in a herd of cows that was going nowhere! Everyone was hot and sweaty and "stank like pigs" and rubbing up against you! Very nasty! We took showers at 1:30 in the morning back at the hotel to get the "stank" off of us! Next time, either we drive to the dome, take a taxi, or stay at hotel within walking distance. Heed my warning!!!!

ROLL TIDE ROLL!

5 Days To Go

Well, it looks as if all of the experts aren't giving Alabama much of a chance against Clemson. That includes the many "experts" on http://www.cbssportsline.com/ and http://www.cfn.scout.com/ just to name a couple. There are many other sites with "expert picks" that all have picked Clemson, but I did find one expert that has picked Alabama to win. That one expert is Clucko the Chicken on http://www.cfn.scout.com/. Here's how the predictions for Clucko the Chicken are made. Put down two feed dishes, one representing one team and one representing another and whichever dish the chicken goes to first is the team that's going to win (really, the pick is a coin flip). Don't laugh, "Clucko" won the 2000 Bowl Pool among 24.

You know, I can actually see why all of the experts have picked Clemson to win. On paper, they are loaded and have lots of depth. I don't think that their offensive line is as bad as everyone is saying it is. These are very talented college players and I know that Clemson will be ready to play. An interesting fact that was just released today is that Alabama will be starting up to 10 freshmen for this game! Are you serious? Yes, I am dead serious. Half of our starters will be freshmen. Another reason for the experts to pick Clemson to win. Alabama is also on their 3rd offensive coordinator in as many years. This doesn't bode well for our QB, John Parker Wilson, but JPW is a very talented kid and has done well with the previous 2 offensive coordinators. If he can minimize his mistakes, we should at least be in the game. But, here's my thoughts (What you didn't ask for them? Well, here they are anyway). Yes, Clemson (on paper) should win this game hands down and all of the experts have rightly picked them to win, but the game still has to be played. Alabama had a dismal 7-6 record last year, but they didn't lose any of those 6 games by more than one possession (3-7 points). Hopefully, this year the Tide will turn! It begins on August 30th and I will be there!

Fortunately, this is a non-conference game and the outcome of this game won't kill either team. Hopefully, the outcome of this game won't kill my marriage! I'm only kidding Boo! You know I will love you through your loss! I mean, you know I will love you no matter what happens! After all, it's only football. Did I just say that? In the words of Dolly Parton and Whitney Houston (clean Whitney), I will always love you!

As I've said before, I am first and foremost an Alabama fan and 2nd a Clemson fan (by marriage). In fact, we have both flags waving on the front of our house! I hope it's at least a close game and a very exciting one at that! So in the spirit of college football and my loyalties ..... ROLL TIDE ROLL! In the spirit of keeping my marriage a happy one ..... ROLL TIDE ROLL! and GO TIGERS!

Is it Football Season Yet?

Nope, not yet! However, it will be in 58 days! Although I always anticipate the start of college football, I normally do NOT count down the days. However, this year is different. This year Alabama's game opener is against Clemson. What's the big deal?

Well, as most of you know, I have always been a huge Alabama fan! Also, as most of you know, my wife is a huge Clemson fan and graduate. This presents an interesting situation in my house that has never happened before, at least since we've been together (15 years). They have never played each other since we have been together.

Now, I am first and foremost an Alabama fan, but have always liked Clemson, too. I guess you could say that they are my #2 team. My wife is first and foremost a Clemson fan, but has always liked Alabama, too (at least since we've been together). I guess you could say that Alabama is her #2 team. We are both very passionate about each of our teams! We both get very excited when our teams win and both get very upset when our teams lose.

So, how will August 30th play out? What if Alabama wins? Can I get all excited and be glad that my team wins? Should I celebrate like I do when they win any other game? Will that be like rubbing salt in her wounds? Should I be a humble winner? But, what if Clemson wins? What will she do? Megan, what will you do?

In one way, you could look at this as a win/win situation. We both like both teams playing, but each of us likes one or the other just a little bit more. It could also be a lose/lose situation, because whoever wins will no doubt be very happy and whoever loses will no doubt be very upset!

And what about leading up to August 30th? Will there be any trash talking going on? Well ..... of course there will! That's what we do when we are passionate about college football! So, Megan, and all of you other Clemson fans, don't hate me WHEN Alabama wins! ROLL TIDE ROLL!